Quick change sliding sinker

ABSTRACT

A quick change sliding sinker is provided having a top and bottom end. A slide hole extends through the sinker body from one side of the sinker to the other and is located closer to the top end of the sinker than the bottom end. A fishing line entry slot is provided in the sinker. One end of the slot connects with the hole and the other end extends through one side margin of the sinker at a point located closer to the bottom end of the sinker than the hole. A line retaining means such as a rubber O-ring is provided on the side of the body of the sinker between the hole and the other end of the slot to encircle the body of the sinker and cover the slot on each side, thereby preventing the line from falling out of the hole.

United States Patent 1191 Fleischaker 1451 Apr. 2, 1974 QUICK CHANGESLIDING SINKER [22] Filed: June 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 368,346

Primary Examiner-Robert Pcshock Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. LeachAttorney, Agent, or FirmJames V. Harmon [5 7] ABSTRACT A quick changesliding sinker is provided having a top and bottom end. A slide holeextends through the sinker body from one side of the sinker to the otherand is located closer to the top end of the sinker than the bottom end.A fishing line entry slot is provided in the sinker. One end of the slotconnects with the hole and the other end extends through one side marginof the sinker at a point located closer to the bottom end of the sinkerthan the hole. A line retaining means such as a rubber O-ring isprovided on the side of the body of the sinker between the hole and theother end of the .slot to encircle the body of the sinker and cover theslot on each side, thereby preventing the line from falling out of thehole.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEUAPR 2 m4 3.800.459

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QUICK CHANGE SLIDING SINKER THE PRIOR ART The benefits provided slidingsinkers, i.e., sinkers that are free to slide up and down on the fishingline, are well known. They are less likely to become entangled in debrissuch as stumps, sticks, rocks etc. located on the bottom since they arefree to slide on the line and in bouncing across the bottom give anaction to the lure. They consist normally of an enlongated sinker with ahole through one end. The problem with these sinkers is that it isnecessary to cut the line to remove them when changing from one lure toanother. This is inconvenient, time consuming and wastes line. It iswell known that a swivel is needed to keep the line from twisting. Theswivel, of course, has to be removed to put on a new plug and it is whenthe swivel is removed that the line has to be cut to remove and replacethe sliding sinker on the line with the new plug.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is toprovide an improved sliding sinker of the type described which can bequickly released and replaced on the line without cutting the line.

Another object is to provide an improved sinker of the type describedthat will slide freely on the line from a hole or opening at one endthrough which the line passes and includes a provision for sliding theline through a slot located on one marginal edge of the sinker.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedsliding sinker of the type described which is low cost and rugged inconstruction.

A further object is the provision of an improved sinker of the typedescribed which is easily assembled and well adapted to mass productionmanufacture.

A further object is the provision of an improved sliding sinker asdescribed which is resistant to wear and damage during use.

A further object is the provision of an improved sinker of the typedescribed which will move through the water without creating a greatdeal of turbulance through the elimination of projecting metal partssuch as detents etc.

A further object is the provision of a removable line retaining elementwhich completely encircles the sinker and preventsremovalv of the linefrom either side of the sinker body.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1..

F IG'. 3 is an elevation of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view ofstill another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of yet another form of the invention, and

FIG. 7 is a persective view showing, the sinker as it appears duringuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A quick change sliding sinker is providedhaving a top and bottom end. A slide hole extends through the sinkerbody from one side of the sinker to the other and is located closer tothe top end of the sinker than the bottom end. A fishing line entry slotis provided in the sinker. One end of the slot connects with the holeand the other extends through a margin of the sinker at a point locatedcloser to the bottom end of the sinker than the hole. A line retainingmeans such as a rubber O-ring is provided on the side of the body of thesinker between the hole and the other end of the slot to encircle thebody of the sinker and cover the slot on each side thereby preventingthe line from falling out of the hole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,it will be seen that the sinker designated generally 10 is formed from aheavy material usually lead and is provided with a slide hole 12 nearthe top end 14 through which line 16 passes when the sinker is beingused. Between the hole 12 and the bottom end 18 of the sinker is anelongated line entry slot 20 through which the line 16 is introducedinto the hole 12. It will be noted that one end of the slot 20terminates at the hole 12 and the other end designated 22 reaches theside margin of the sinker and it is through this opening that the lineis introduced when it is to be placed into the hole. Slot 20 extends allthe way from the front surface 24 of the sinker to the rear surface 26.Between the end 22 communicating with the side margin of the sinker andthe end connected to the hole is a line retaining means 28 which in thisinstance consists of a rubber O-ring of a small size, for examplethree-eighths inch in diameter which is removably fastened to the sinkerwithin a circular depression or groove 30 that' extends entirely aroundthe sinker generally at right angles to the direction of the long axisof the slot 20. In this way the O-ring 28 can be removed by sliding itdownwardly or upwardly, for example into a second groove 32 parallel togroove 30 leaving the slot 20 unobstructed so that the line 16 can beintroduced into the opening 12. The O-ring is then returned to thegroove 30. This securely retains the line 16 at the desired position inthe hole 12. The line retainer 28 need not be rubber provided it is ableto move to a position allowing line 16 to be introduced from end 22 ofthe slot to the hole 12.

Refer now to FIG. 3 which shows a modified form of the invention inwhich the same numerals designate corresponding parts. As seen in thefigure, the slot unlike that in FIGS. 1 and 2 is slanted at an obliqueangle relative to the longitudinal axis of the sinker and defines astraight line rather than having a right angle bend as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 but is otherwise similar to the embodiment alreadydescribed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, slot 20 extends downwardly somewhat furtherfrom the opening toward the opposite end 18 of the sinker but at thatpoint extends upwardly on an inclined axis relative to the longitudinalaxis of the sinker so as to make a sharp oblique angle with respect tothe vertical portion of the slot. This makes it more difficult to losethe sinker even in the event the O-ring 28 is lost for some reason andgives the sinker more structural strength since the portion thereof tothe right of the slot as seen in the figure cannot be bent outwardlyowing to the engagement of the adjacent section of the sinker. As seenin FIG. 5, the slot extends from the opening 12 all the way to theopposite end of the sinker and has no bend in it at all. This form ofthe invention is somewhat weaker structurally than that of FIG. 4 butcan in some instances be manufactured more easily.

Referring now to FIG. 6, which is otherwise similar the slot 42. Thering 40 is then rotated on its axis 180 and the opposite side of theline 16 is passed through slot 42 allowing the whole line to enter intothe opening 12.

It should be noted that in the present invention the line 12 does notextend longitudinally of the sinker but instead extends transverselytherethrough from one face thereof to the other and the opening 12 isrelatively short compared with the overall length of the sinker. Thisdistinguishes the invention from the type of sinker which is elongatedand in which the line itself extends along the length of the sinker.However, the sinker in accordance with the present invention need notnecessarily be elongated, i.e., have one major axis thereof longer thanthe other.

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner in which the sinker is used when it isattached to the line. The sinker 10 is mounted on the portion 16 of theline which extends to the fishing pole. A swivel 54 is connected to thelower end of line 16 and this is in turn connected to the fishing lure56.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is therefore not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise then necessistated by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A quick change sliding sinker a top end and a bottom end, a slidehole extending through the body of the sinker from one side thereof tothe other, the slide hole being located closer to the top of the sinkerthan the bottom end, a line entry slot in the sinker for introducing afishing line therethrough into the slide hole. said slot having one endconnected with the hole and the other end thereof extending through themargin of the sinker at a point locate closer to the bottom end of thesinker than the hole and a movable line retaining element on the side ofthe body of the sinker and located between said point and the hole, saidline retaining means encircling the body of the sinker and covering theslot on each side of the body of the sinker to prevent the line fromfalling out of the hole and said line retaining means being movable to aposition for releasing the line whereby the line can be moved from thehole through the slot to the point where the slot terminates at themargin of the sinker.

2. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the movable line retaining meanscomprises a rubber O-ring encircling the body of the sinker generally atright angles to the axis of the slot adjacent thereto.

3. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the sinker is elongated, the slotextends longitudinally of the sinker along the long axis thereofthroughout a substantial part of its length thence laterally to the sidemargin of the sinker.

4. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the movable line retaining means is anelastic rubber O-ring, a groove is provided within the body of thesinker extending entirely around the body thereof between said point andthe slide hole for the line, said groove being adapted to releasablyretain the rubber O-ring in the desired position on the body of thesinker.

5. The sinker of claim 4 wherein a second groove is provided on theopposite side of said point from the hole to hold the rubber O-ringtemporarily while the line is being introduced or withdrawn from thehole through the slot.

6. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the movable line retaining meanscomprises a rigid plastic retaining ring extending around the body ofthe sinker and rotatably mounted thereon for rotation upon its owncentral axis, a circular recess is provided in the body of the sinker toreceive the plastic ring, said plastic ring is provided with a slotextending therethrough on one side thereof whereby the line can bepassed through the slot on the ring first on one side whereupon the ringcan be rotated to pass another portion of the line through the slotthereby allowing the line to be moved into and out of the slide holewithout cutting the line.

7. A quick change sliding sinker having an elongated body with alongitudinal axis thereof extending from the top of the sinker at oneend to the bottom of the sinker at the other, a slide hole near the topend of the sinker extending through the body of the sinker from one sidethereof to the other, a line entry slot in the sinker for introducingand removing a fishing line from the side hole, said slot having one endthereof communicating with the slide hole and the other end thereofextending through the margin of the sinker at a point located closer tothe bottom end of the sinker than the hole, a pair of longitudinallyspaced apart grooves around the body of the sinker each being located ina plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sinker,the first of said grooves being located between said point and the holeand the second of said grooves being located on the opposite side ofsaid point from the hole and an elastic line retaining ring mountedwithin one of the grooves and adapted to be moved therefrom back andforth to the other groove for releasing the line and securing the lineposition within the slide hole.

1. A quick change sliding sinker a top end and a bottom end, a slidehole extending through the body of the sinker from one side thereof tothe other, the slide hole being located closer to the top of the sinkerthan the bottom end, a line entry slot in the sinker for introducing afishing line therethrough into the slide hole, said slot having one endconnected with the hole and the other end thereof extending through themargin of the sinker at a point locate closer to the bottom end of thesinker than the hole and a movable line retaining element on the side ofthe body of the sinker and located between said point and the hole, saidline retaining means encircling the body of the sinker and covering theslot on each side of the body of the sinker to prevent the line fromfalling out of the hole and said line retaining means being movable to aposition for releasing the line whereby the line can be moved from thehole through the slot to the point where the slot terminates at themargin of the sinker.
 2. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the movable lineretaining means comprises a rubber O-ring encircling the body of thesinker generally at right angles to the axis of the slot adjacentthereto.
 3. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the sinker is elongated, theslot extends longitudinally of the sinker along the long axis thereofthroughout a substantial part of its length thence laterally to the sidemargin of the sinker.
 4. The sinker of claim 1 wherein the movable lineretaining means is an elastic rubber O-ring, a groove is provided withinthe body of the sinker extending entirely around the body thereofbetween said point and the slide hole for the line, said groove beingadapted to releasably retain the rubber O-ring in the desired positionon the body of the sinker.
 5. The sinker of claim 4 wherein a secondgroove is provided on the opposite side of said point from the hole tohold the rubber O-ring temporarily while the line is being introduced orwithdrawn from the hole through the slot.
 6. The sinker of claim 1wherein the movable line retaining means comprises a rigid plasticretaining ring extending around the body of the sinker and rotatablymounted thereon for rotation upon its own central axis, a circularrecess is provided in the Body of the sinker to receive the plasticring, said plastic ring is provided with a slot extending therethroughon one side thereof whereby the line can be passed through the slot onthe ring first on one side whereupon the ring can be rotated 180* topass another portion of the line through the slot thereby allowing theline to be moved into and out of the slide hole without cutting theline.
 7. A quick change sliding sinker having an elongated body with alongitudinal axis thereof extending from the top of the sinker at oneend to the bottom of the sinker at the other, a slide hole near the topend of the sinker extending through the body of the sinker from one sidethereof to the other, a line entry slot in the sinker for introducingand removing a fishing line from the side hole, said slot having one endthereof communicating with the slide hole and the other end thereofextending through the margin of the sinker at a point located closer tothe bottom end of the sinker than the hole, a pair of longitudinallyspaced apart grooves around the body of the sinker each being located ina plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sinker,the first of said grooves being located between said point and the holeand the second of said grooves being located on the opposite side ofsaid point from the hole and an elastic line retaining ring mountedwithin one of the grooves and adapted to be moved therefrom back andforth to the other groove for releasing the line and securing the lineposition within the slide hole.